26th Euro-kartoenale Kruishoutem 2027: Theme, Rules and Prizes
The European Cartoon Center (ECC) in Belgium invites cartoonists from around the world to participate in the 26th Euro-kartoenale Kruishoutem, its biennial international cartoon competition.
The theme of the 2027 edition is “The Power of Humor – Its Impact on People and Society.” The deadline for entries is 6 January 2027.
Theme
The competition invites cartoonists to show the influence humor can have on individuals and society.
The organizers are looking for cartoons that demonstrate what humor can release, change or set in motion. A humorous drawing without a clear connection to this impact does not meet the theme.
Participation Rules
- The competition is open to cartoonists worldwide, including beginners and experienced artists.
- Each participant may submit a maximum of five cartoons.
- All graphic techniques are permitted.
- Cartoons must not contain captions or other text.
- Previously published cartoons are accepted if they have not won a prize in another competition.
- Plagiarism and the use of generative AI to create cartoons or essential parts of them are not permitted.
Participants declare that their submitted works were created by them and comply with the regulations.
In cases of justified doubt, the jury may request sketches, intermediate versions, working files or other information about how a cartoon was created. A prize may be withdrawn after deliberation if a violation is discovered following the announcement of the awards.
How to Submit
Online submissions
Participants must register using their email address and upload their cartoons through the official registration platform.
- Resolution: 300 dpi
- File size: between 1 and 3 MB
- Format: image file, not PDF
- Deadline: 6 January 2027
Additional cartoons may be uploaded before the participant confirms the submission. Once confirmed, the works cannot be changed and participation is closed.
Submissions by email are not accepted. Participants must use the online registration system or traditional mail.
Postal submissions
Cartoons submitted by post must be in A4 format. The participant’s full name, email address and postal address must be written on the back of each work.
Euro-kartoenale
René D’Huyvetterstraat 5C
9770 Kruishoutem
Belgium
For submissions from outside the European Union, participants should observe customs formalities and indicate that the shipment is a gift. The organizers do not pay import duties and are not responsible for damaged or lost submissions.
The same cartoon may be submitted both digitally and by post, but the organizers strongly recommend submitting each work only once, preferably online, to avoid confusion and duplicate entries.
Confirmation and participant list
Participants can check the regularly updated participant list on the European Cartoon Center website to confirm that their works have arrived.
If a registration confirmation is not received, participants should check their spam or junk folder. If the confirmation is still missing, they can contact info@ecc-kruishoutem.be .
Prizes
The competition offers six main awards.
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| First Prize | €2,100 + trophy |
| Second Prize | €1,700 + trophy |
| Third Prize | €1,500 + trophy |
| Best Entry from the EU | €1,000 |
| Best Belgian Entry | €1,000 |
| ECC Prize | A solo exhibition at the European Cartoon Center in 2028 |
The jury may also award additional honorable mentions.
All winners will be invited to a three-day stay in Kruishoutem for the award ceremony. Hotel accommodation, meals and tourist excursions are included. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the winners.
Jury and Selection
An international jury of cartoonists and experts in graphic humor will evaluate the submissions.
Following an online pre-selection, the 500 highest-scoring cartoons will be reviewed at the jury meeting in Kruishoutem on 29 January 2027.
The jury will decide which works are selected for the exhibition, catalogue and awards. Its full composition will be announced after the submission deadline.
Announcement of selection results
In early February 2027, participants will receive an email newsletter announcing the selection results and prize nominees. The participant list on the official website will also be updated.
Exhibition and Award Ceremony
The exhibition opening and award ceremony will take place on Saturday, 27 March 2027.
A selection of 150 cartoons will be exhibited at the European Cartoon Center from 28 March to 13 June 2027.
Selected works may also be used in smaller travelling exhibitions until the end of 2028.
Competition Catalogue
A printed catalogue featuring approximately 100 selected cartoons will be published.
Cartoonists whose works are included in the catalogue will automatically receive a free copy.
Other participants may request a free copy, paying the delivery costs, or collect it from the European Cartoon Center.
Copyright and Original Works
Copyright remains with the cartoonist.
By participating, cartoonists grant Euro-kartoenale permission to publish their submitted works in the catalogue and use them to promote the exhibition.
Permission must be obtained from the cartoonist in advance for other uses.
The organizers may use winning and selected cartoons in their own exhibitions.
Original artworks will only be returned following an explicit written request from the participant.
Original cartoons that are not requested back, together with high-quality exhibition prints, will be kept at the European Cartoon Center. Cartoonists may ask the organizers to destroy the exhibition print of their cartoon.
By submitting cartoons, participants automatically agree to the competition regulations.
Official Registration and Regulations
Entries must be submitted by 6 January 2027. Full regulations and registration information are available on the organizer’s official website.
Image: European Cartoon Center.
